Gay Icon Sir Ian McKellen Teases The Return of Gandalf in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’
Image: Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett C
Queer Tolkien nerds rejoice! Sir Ian McKellen has hinted at a return to Middle-earth, suggesting that Gandalf will appear in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
Speaking at London鈥檚 , the 86-year-old actor told fans:聽 “Well, I hear there鈥檚 going to be another movie set in Middle-earth.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 going to start to filming in May. It鈥檚 going to be directed by Gollum, and it鈥檚 all about Gollum,” McKellen told the crowd.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a character in the movie called Frodo, and there鈥檚 another character called Gandalf. Apart from that, my lips are sealed.鈥�
The remark has been widely interpreted as confirmation that both Gandalf and Frodo will feature in the new instalment, though McKellen stopped short of explicitly confirming whether he and Elijah Wood would reprise their roles.
The pair last appeared together in 2003鈥檚 The Return of the King, which won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
However, The Hunt for Gollum聽is expected to take place between聽The Hobbit听补苍诲听The Lord of the Rings 鈥� which has left many fans with questions about how Frodo鈥檚 storyline will fit in with the timeline.
The film, scheduled for release on 17 December 2027, will be directed by Andy Serkis, who also stars as Gollum. Original trilogy creators Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are attached as producers, with Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou writing the screenplay. Production is expected to begin in mid-2026.
McKellen alluding to the return of Gandalf has LOTR fans over the moon
McKellen鈥檚 possible return has drawn excitement from fans of the franchise. The actor, who has been openly queer since the 1980s, has become a significant figure in both LGBTQIA+ representation and international cinema. His performance as Gandalf across six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films is widely regarded as one of the defining portrayals of modern fantasy, blending theatrical gravitas with popular appeal.
If confirmed, the involvement of McKellen and Wood would mark the first time major characters from the original trilogy appear in Warner Bros. and New Line鈥檚 new Lord of the Rings era. Further casting announcements are expected as production moves closer.
For long-time fans [like this writer, who holds bi-annual Lord of the Rings hibernation weekends where she watches the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies one after another] the possibility of seeing McKellen don the grey robes again has been met with huge anticipation. Online forums and social media feeds lit up following the convention, with many describing the news as 鈥渓ike coming home鈥� to a world that defined their love of fantasy.
If confirmed, Gandalf鈥檚 return could be the emotional anchor that unites veteran audiences with a new generation of Middle-earth fans.
You can watch McKellen make the announcement at the For Love of Fantasy convention here:
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